From chasing down the time and running down the halls to violently opening the door and frantically searching for an empty seat. That is only a snippet of what it’s like to participate in JEA/NSPA, a national journalism convention.

From November 11-15, members of James Bowie High School’s newspaper staff, sophomore  Mia Barbosa, sophomore Carissa Duran,  sophomore Olivia Glenewinkel, senior Jasmine Correa, their teacher, Michael Reeves, and a yearbook representative, senior Granger Coats went to the JEA/NSPA, national journalism convention in sunny Orlando, Florida.

The convention provided workshops that predominantly focused in three categories; writing, photography, and graphic design.

“I’m highly interested in all three of these subjects, photography and writing the most, and this convention was an opportunity to immerse myself in what love doing,” Glenewinkel said. “Going would give me an opportunity to learn new things and skills that can help me improve on the newspaper staff as well as in my own personal work. And the convention did just that.”

Going to the convention has helped the members gain more knowledge in the areas they were struggling with.

“Something really important that I learned is that if I want to do what I’m passionate about which is writing, then I have to take any opportunity I have to write, to embrace that opportunity,” Duran said. “From writing a text message to an essay, I should always be practicing my writing and improving my writing.”

Reworking the basics can helped the members gain previous information they could’ve missed the first time around.

“I was able to refresh my photography skills as well as learn how important it is that you push for more information in every story and don’t settle for the broad answers,” Correa said.

The time in Orlando wasn’t all work and no play, often during the member’s’ free time they would explore the hotel.

“My time in Orlando was so amazing with my friends that I found myself not even wanting to go to Disney World, also known as the happiest place on earth, because I was having a blast at the hotel,” Barbosa said. “We would explore and often visit the candy shop, do the bean boozled challenge with our teacher, play sand volleyball, play in the arcade, climb on a jungle gym, go putt-putt, slam dunk on a basketball net, and create a lion in the sand.”

The convention pushed the member’s perspective to never settle and always keep improving.

“Learning about writing is endless, there is also something new to learn and there is always room for improvement,” Duran said.

Going to a national convention helps bring more attention to the school and staff according to Reeves.

“It’s important for our newspaper to be recognized nationally. When people think of newspapers, I want them to think of ours. I want to be best in the country, and showing that we are by competing with only the best,” Reeves said.

The trip provided more than just information; bonding and creating unforgettable memories with the other members on staff is something you can’t learn.

“The trip wasn’t like anything I had done before,” Glenewinkel said. “I’m not one to travel and go on school-involved trips so this was my first time doing anything like this. But I really enjoyed it, something that I’ll definitely do again.”